6th Grade Science Lesson Plans | Interactive Science Teacher

Choosing The Best In Our 6th grade science lesson plans

Science demonstration- effect of shining a flashlight through increasing cloudy water. From lesson ‘Interactive Notes-Why Is The Sky Blue?’

With all the demonstrations available, you might be wondering why I selected the ones I did to be included in my 6th grade science lesson plans. In most cases the choice was hard to make, but I used several criteria to guide that decision:

Each demonstration obviously need to illustrate the topic in each of the 6th grade science lesson plans

It should work every single time it’s tried

And use common materials you already have

It shouldn’t over-excite students

Or be complicated for you to explain or for students to do

It also needs to be fascinating to watch

And have the ability to hold every students’ attention while it’s being done and then explained

Advantages Of These 6th Grade Science Lesson Plans

Since each of my 6th grade science lesson plans has been used in a real classroom you know you’re getting more than a great sounding idea that might work. You’re getting 6th grade science lesson plans without kinks and with a consistent flow from beginning to end. You’re also getting a thorough background that reflects what actually happened when I did the lesson with my students, and not what might happen or we hope will.

We all know what it’s like to try to use a teacher’s guide that’s vague or idealistic; those don’t work because they were dreamed up far from a real classroom! That won’t happen with my 6th grade science lesson plans.

What Busyness Does To Your 6th grade science lesson plans

Do you remember the magician from Frosty The Snowman? He was busy, busy, busy!! That describes Americans today- always in a hurry trying to accomplish more than we have time for. But things done in a hurry are seldom done well, and that includes the 6th grade science lesson plans we do in our classrooms as well.

Being busy is not in itself a bad thing, and having more 6th grade science lesson plans than we have time for should theoretically result in a better learning environment, since we should be choosing to do the strongest lessons and disregarding the weaker ones; we’ll call this natural selection of lesson plans. But sometimes 6th grade science lesson plans are done just for the sake of doing them, and if most of what we’re teaching our students will soon be forgotten, then what’s the point of even doing it?

My 6th grade science lesson plans take a more balanced approach. They don’t try to go all directions at once, nor is it all fluff and fun. There is terminology and concepts, but my goal is also to develop the creative and practical part of each student’s mind. Each of my 6th grade science lesson plans stays steadily focused on just 1 thing or theme from beginning to end. And they tend to be simple and quiet so that your students can keep a sustained thought and actually have some room left over in their minds to think creatively and to explore.

“Letting Go” In 6th Grade Science Lesson Plans

To your relief, none of my 6th grade science lesson plans will ask you to do every thing for every student. In fact, you’ll notice a complete shift of who does what in my 6th grade science lesson plans. Students, not you, are the ones doing things. Your job is to stand back and make sure people do what they’re supposed to do, and the outcomes are what they’re supposed to be. Then you can move in with dialogue when their minds are primed and ready. This method may be uncomfortable for you at first. But the rewards are worth it.

By handing over the best part of your 6th grade science lesson plans to students- the demonstration- you’re showing trust. Most students will respond to this by rewarding you (and themselves) with a higher level of maturity, and now everyone’s winning. In my 6th grade science lesson plans your role is to give students enough clear instruction so they know what to do. But always leave some play room that they can use to discover things for themselves. Having come upon something amazing with their own hands, they will naturally go further and manipulate variables, enriching the discussion even more. Now that is real science.

6th grade science lesson plans With More Than You Bargained For

When you go through my 6th grade science lesson plans I hope you’re surprised at how much you get. Sure, you expect student handouts and some sort of teacher notes. But what about customized PowerPoints, quizzes and homework assignments, copies pictures, and a thorough set of video notes complete with step-by-step explanation and illustrations that you can customize your 6th grade science lesson plans?

The Best Influences On Your 6th grade science lesson plans

It’s stunning when students realize this, but teachers are real people. When they spot us shopping or driving around town, they may stare in bewilderment because teachers are never supposed to be anywhere but at school teaching and getting ready for 6th grade science lesson plans.

As wrong as that perception is, they’re still right about something- being a teacher of 6th grade science lesson plans carries over into every other part of our lives, just as every other part of our lives affects us as teachers. What books are you reading? Or are you reading anything at all? If you’re not reading at least one challenging non-fiction book a month then you’re not doing the very thing that we as educators stress is so important to our students. If reading a book seems too boring, then you’re reading the wrong things because a good book is hard to put down. And one good book will lead to others. Each book will teach you something valuable, and soon you’ll see growth and improvement in your life.

Be Intentional In Your 6th Grade Science Lesson plans

As you mentally prepare for each of your 6th grade science lesson plans, be intentional about everything. Nothing should happen by accident or by chance (at least not many things; science class should occasionally reflect real science and encounter surprises).

That’s the beauty of the Yellow Sheet– almost nothing can sneak up on you. Using this method of planning for your 6th grade science lesson plans, you’ll overlook no detail. It may sound like a lot of work and different from anything else you’ve ever done, but if you often feel frustrated with what goes on in your room, try it for a week and see how it goes. You’ll find that when you’re intentional and not accidental, more will get done and the tone will be more positive.

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